Pied Wheatear
Oenanthe pleschanka (Lepechin, 1770) (2, 1)
Photo © Matthew K Naylor - Whitley Bay, Northumberland, November 2022
STATUS
Central Palearctic. Monotypic.
OVERVIEW
All records as per (BOU 1971).
The arrival of this species is much later than Northern Wheatear, beginning mid-October through November and December.
RECORDS
1). 1909 Isle of May No locality, first-winter male, shot, 19th October, O. p. pleschanka, now at National Museums of Scotland (NMSZ 1910.9).
(E. V. Baxter & L. J. Rintoul, Annals of Scottish Natural History 1910: 2-4; H. F. Witherby, British Birds 3: 296-297; BOU, 1915; Witherby, 1920-24; Rintoul & Baxter, 1935; J. S. Ash & K. B. Rooke, British Birds 49: 320; W. J. Eggeling, Scottish Birds 8: 115; A. M. Stoddart, Birding World 21 (4): 156-157, photo).
History E. V. Baxter & L. J. Rintoul (1910) in the Annals of Scottish Natural History, Vol. XIX. pp. 2-4, say: 'On October 19th, 1909, we were engaged in migration work on the Isle of May, and on that particular day we were rather inclined to be in a despondent frame of mind, as the wind which had been light off the East for one day before, had gone back into the West again; and we had always found that the West wind brought us few treasures.
However we did our usual rounds without seeing anything unusual till noon, when, among the rocks on the East side, we put up a Chat, which we at once decided was not a Common Wheatear. It was considerably darker than S. oenanthe, looked smaller, and seemed to show less white patch on the rump when it flew; it was restless and rather wild, flitting from one rock to another in a hurried manner.
Then began a most exciting chase, up and down the steep declivities and among broken jagged rocks until, at last, a lucky shot laid the quarry low. On picking it up, we found that we had got a bird quite unknown to us; nor did Saunders's Manual and various other books help us, for we could find no description which corresponded with it.
Full of high hopes we consigned it to Mr. Eagle Clarke at the Royal Scottish Museum, to whom it also presented difficulties (added to by the fact that the bird was a female in autumn plumage), and being uncertain of its identity owing to want of adequate material with which to compare it, he sent the bird to Dr. Hartert at Tring, and to our great satisfaction our capture was pronounced by him to be a bird new to the British List, being the Eastern Pied Chat, Saxicola pleschanka (the S. morio of some authors), but of the white-throated form usually considered a distinct species, the S. vittata of Hemprich and Ehrenberg, now considered by Dr. Hartert to be merely a variety of S. pleschanka....
Our specimen proved to be a female; it is 5.7 inches in length, wing 3.6 inches. Head dull greyish-brown with faint indications of darker streaks; eye-streak buffish white; ear-coverts brownish-black, much streaked with greyish-brown; mantle black, each feather broadly margined with greyish-brown, lighter at the tips; rump and upper tail coverts white; central pair of tail feathers black with basal third white, remaining tail feathers white broadly tipped with black, the outer ones more so than the inner; primaries, secondaries, and wing-coverts blackish-brown with narrow pale brown margins; sides of the neck white tinged with buff; throat and centre of abdomen white; chest warm buff; flanks and under tail-coverts pale buff; axillaries black; under wing-coverts black, with paler edges; eyes, bill, feet, and toes black.'
H. F. Witherby (1910) in British Birds, Vol. III. pp. 296-297, says: 'On October 19th, 1909, while the Misses Evelyn V. Baxter and Leonora Jeffrey Rintoul were engaged in migration work on the Isle of May in the Firth of Forth, they noticed a Wheatear, which appeared "considerably darker than O. oenanthe, looked smaller and seemed to show less white patch on the rump when it flew; it was restless and rather wild", but was eventually secured.
Mr. W. Eagle Clarke and Dr. E. Hartert have identified the bird, which is a female, as the Eastern Pied Wheatear, Saxicola pleschanka (Lepech.) = S. morio Hemp. and Ehr. The wind was in the west at the time and had been blowing previously lightly from the east, and there was not much movement of birds in progress.
The above details of this most interesting discovery are condensed from an article by the discoverers in the Annals of Scottish Nat. Hist. (1910, pp. 2-4), where a nice coloured figure of the bird by Miss L. Medland is also given.
The range of the Eastern Pied Wheatear is given by Mr. Dresser (Man. Pal. Birds, p. 32) as Cyprus, and from the Crimea and lower valley of the Volga east to Kashmir, south eastern Siberia, Tibet, Mongolia, and northern China, wintering in N.W. India, Abyssinia and Arabia, and occasionally in Gilgit. It has also occurred in Italy and Heligoland. The bird occurring in Cyprus is, however, decidedly a distinct form (O. pleschanka cypriaca, Horn.), and possibly in other parts of its range distinct forms may be recognised, as a series of specimens reveals much difference in plumage other than seasonal, although Dr. Hartert, we are told (Ann. S.N.H., 1910, p. 3), considers the white-throated form (O. vittata, Hemp, and Ehr.), to which the specimen in question belongs, to be merely a variety of O. pleschanka.
The Misses Rintoul and Baxter thus describe their capture, which is a female: - "It is 5.7 inches in length, wing 3.6 inches. Head dull greyish-brown with faint indications of darker streaks; eye-streak buffish-white; ear-coverts brownish-black, much streaked with greyish-brown; mantle black, each feather broadly margined with greyish-brown, lighter at the tips; rump and upper tail-coverts white; central pair of tail feathers black with basal third white, remaining tail-feathers white broadly tipped with black, the outer ones more so than the inner; primaries, secondaries, and wing-coverts blackish-brown with narrow pale brown margins; sides of the neck white tinged with buff; throat and centre of abdomen white; chest warm buff; flanks and under tail-coverts pale buff; axillaries black; under wing-coverts black, with paler edges; eyes, bill, feet, and toes black".'
Rintoul & Baxter (1935) say: 'A female in autumn plumage was recorded by us on 19th October 1909. It was the white-throated variety, was considerably darker than the Common Wheatear, and seemed to show less white on the rump and tail when it flew.'
J. S. Ash & K. B. Rooke (1956) in British Birds, Vol. XLIX. p. 320, say: 'As previously indicated, a reference in The Handbook, under field-characters of female Pied Wheatear in autumn, to the Isle of May example (19th October 1909) which appeared darker than a common Wheatear, was at first rather misleading. Subsequent reference to the original description and coloured plate of this specimen (Baxter and Rintoul, 1910), to Witherby's (1910) account of it, and the coloured plate in Thorburn (1925), strongly suggested that it was "not" a female, particularly because it had: "mantle black, each feather broadly margined with greyish-brown, lighter at the tips" (Baxter and Rintoul).
Apart from wings and tail, there was no black on the upper-parts, of the Portland bird, nor was there any in skins of female leucomela examined later, nor is it mentioned in detailed plumage descriptions (e.g. Handbook, Williamson (in litt.), who kindly examined the mounted specimen in the Royal Scottish Museum and reported that it was undoubtedly a male, probably first winter.'
Andy Stoddart (2008) in Birding World, Vol. XXI. pp. 156-157, has now put forward the argument that it is a first-winter male of the morph vittata, which is what Ernst Hartert assigned it to in the beginning. It may well be the vittata is a hybrid-type.
Comment Alan Knox (e-mail) has informed the author that it is a male.
2). 1916 Orkney Swona, female, shot, 1st November, O. p. pleschanka, now at National Museums of Scotland (NMSZ 1916.81).
(J. Bain, Scottish Naturalist 36: 293; W. E. Clarke, Scottish Naturalist 36: 293-294; Eds., British Birds 10: 190; Witherby, 1920-24; Forrester & Andrews et al., 2007).
History John Bain (1916) in the Scottish Naturalist, Vol. XXXVI. p. 293, says: 'On 1st November 1916 I obtained on the island of Swona a Wheatear which was quite new to me. I sent it to Dr. Eagle Clarke, who informs me that it is a young female of the Pied Chat (Oenanthe leucomela). This is the second British specimen, the only previous record being one from the Isle of May in 1909.'
Wm. Eagle Clarke (1916) in the Scottish Naturalist, Vol. XXXVI. pp. 293-294, says: 'The capture of the second British example of the Pied Wheatear (O. leucomela, Pallas = O. pleschanka, Lepeche), recorded above, is not only interesting as an example of the wanderings from its accustomed tracks of a south-eastern European and southern Siberian summer bird, but is useful since it affords an opportunity of describing the species in a state of plumage which has been hitherto treated of in a very sketchy and wholly inadequate manner.
This Orcadian specimen is a young female in its first-winter dress - the stage in which the bird is most likely, in one or other sex, to occur in our islands. Head, mantle, and scapulars dark drab, with paler edgings to the feathers, which are very faint on the head and most pronounced on the scapulars. Ear coverts brown; rump white. Primary and secondary wing feathers and their ear coverts blackish; the former and their coverts outwardly margined and tipped with whitish buff; secondaries and rest of coverts with greyish buff. The two centre feathers of the tail are black except the basal third, which is white; rest of the tail white with a broad black terminal band, broadest on the outer feathers; all the outer margins and tips edged with whitish buff. Throat and fore-neck greyish buff, the dark basal portion of the buff-edged feathers being in evidence and giving a dusky appearance. Breast dull sandy buff. Abdomen, flanks, and under tail coverts light buff. Under surface of the primaries dark silvery grey, with pale buff inner margins; coverts dusky, edged with white and most pronounced on the smaller series; axillaries dull black. Wing, 92.5 mm. (3.62 ins.). Third and fourth quills longest and equal, the second and fifth equal, and the third, fourth, and fifth emarginated towards the tips. Bill and legs black.'
In an Editorial (1917) in British Birds, Vol. X. p. 190, they say: 'Mr. John Bain makes the interesting announcement (Scot. Nat., 1916, p. 293) that he obtained a female Oenanthe p. pleschanka on November 1st, 1916, on the island of Swona. This is only the second recorded British occurrence, the first being at the Isle of May on October 19th, 1909. Mr. W. Eagle Clarke follows (loc. cit.) with a description of the first winter female, in which state of plumage this example was obtained.'
Forrester & Andrews et al. (2007 (2): 1115) add: 'Specimen now at National Museums Scotland (NMSZ 1916.81).'
1950-57 RECORD
3). 1954 Dorset Portland, first-winter female, 17th to 19th October, when trapped.
(J. Ash, British Birds 48: 130-132; K. B. Rooke, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Antiquarian Society 76: 169; J. S. Ash, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Antiquarian Society 76: 185; J. S. Ash & K. B. Rooke, British Birds 49: 317-322; Prendergast & Boys, 1983).
History J. Ash (1955) in British Birds, Vol. XLVIII. pp. 130-132, says: 'A Pied Wheatear (Oenanthe leucomela) was present at Portland Bill, Dorset, from 17th to 19th October 1954. It presented excellent opportunities for study in the field, and it was subsequently trapped. In view of the extreme rarity of this species in western Europe (there are two past records from Scotland, two from Heligoland and one from Italy), it may be of interest to give a detailed account of the bird's appearance in the field.
It was first seen by J.S.A. with R. Bland at 1700 hours G.M.T. on 17th September whilst feeding on a grassy bank at the top of a low sea-cliff near the tip of Portland Bill. The first impression was of a wheatear with rather striking brownish-grey upper-parts and almost white lower breast and belly. In spite of the failing light, its remarkable fearlessness permitted an approach to within 12-15 feet. It fed continuously as we watched it, and practically ignored the many sightseers at the Lighthouse nearby. The following description was then obtained: size, about that of Wheatear (O. oenanthe) or slightly smaller; dark (?black) bill and eye; whole of upper-parts a light brownish-grey with apparent slight mottled effect; upper breast fairly dark buff, and distinctly demarcated from almost pure white under-parts; palish edgings to (? primary) coverts and to edge of secondaries; typical wheatear tail-pattern, but brief glimpse in flight suggested more extensive white on rump; supercilium barely noticeable; legs black. After consulting The Handbook it was considered that the bird might be either a Pied or a Black-eared Wheatear (O. hispanica).
Fortunately it was still present at dawn on the following morning, and with my wife (J.W.A.) and W, p. Lewis, we obtained a further description in perfect conditions of light. The previous evening's observations were confirmed, and additional information obtained. The pectoral band was described as fairly dark buff with a tinge of orange, being slightly darker towards the sides, with a slight pale division at the sternum. Definitely no trace of a dark line between nostrils and eye: lores same colour as crown, possibly slightly paler. Throat slightly paler than breast (pale grey brown). Only a slight emergence of pale buff-brown between pectoral band and lower breast. Best of under-parts off-white (not pure white even in bright sun on white-washed wall). Whole frontal area of wing (lesser coverts, etc.) same colour as upper-parts and definitely showing no contrast. Bastard wing darker than lesser coverts. Primaries and secondaries dark brown with buffish edges. Slight tinge of buffish at sides of vent (lower flanks). Legs appeared shorter than those of a Wheatear, and bird lacked the upright stance of that species (i.e., tarsi at angle of 45° to ground). Call note, heard several times, resembled that of the Wheatear.
Feeding habits: never seen hopping on ground searching for insects as Wheatear, but dropped from above like a Stonechat (Saxicola torquata), usually returning to original perch. It was once seen to hover (over a baited spring-trap), and on several occasions flew out for four or five yards to pick up ah insect on the ground. Its time was divided between one perch a foot above the ground, and a wall five foot high. When disturbed it frequently flew to the top of a hut ten foot high.
From the description it was decided that the bird was almost certainly a female Pied Wheatear, but for definite identification the bird should be caught. Five spring-nets baited with meal-worms were placed round its lowest perch, and after a wait of six hours the bird was finally trapped.
An examination in the hand then showed that it could only be a female Pied Wheatear, unless one of the closely related species. (O. moesta, monacha or lugens, which are not described in The Handbook. Dr. K. B. Rooke was contacted and brought with him some additional literature on wheatears which confirmed our identification. The bird was kept overnight, then ringed and released at 0630 hours on 19th October. Later that day it was watched feeding by Miss M. D. Crosby.
[Mr. Ash has provided us with a copy of the very detailed description that was taken of the bird in the hand. A short paper on the problem of the identification of the female Pied Wheatear, by John Ash and Dr. K. B. Rooke, will be appearing in a future number of British Birds. - Eds.]
NOT PROVEN
0). 1933 Isles of Scilly Tresco, female, seen, 16th September
(Penhallurick, 1978).
[Penhallurick, 1978; Robinson, 2003].
History Penhallurick (1978: 235) recorded this record from A. A. Dorrien Smith's MS. but placed the record in square brackets through lack of detail.
